Somerset Wild Walks

Thursday, 24 March 2016

Slimbridge Visit - a sunny Spring morning 21/3

An early start for our visit to Slimbridge so that we could enter the hides before opening time through the members only side gate. A good sunny morning so it was surprising that there were not many people around but also nice. The Bewick's have now all left and winter duck species are getting fewer. Good numbers of Avocets viewed from the Holden Hide and they look to be pairing up and looking at suitable nesting areas. 3 Cranes were out on the estuary as was a lone Peregrine sat on a post. Nice to see a small group of White fronted Geese before they depart north. We had a fantastic if fleeting view of a Water Rail with its catch a newt from one of the hides, didn't realise they would go for anything as big as a newt! Still good numbers of Wigeon grazing plus Golden Plover out on the Tack and also increasing numbers of Shelduck and Oystercatchers.

Cranes were seen all over the reserve and a Warden told us that there were about 15 that had flown up from the Somerset Levels and hopefully some of these will nest. 2 female Scaup are still on the Peng lake. Another highlight was a large flock of Black tailed Godwits nearly in full summer plumage and a fly past flash of blue of a Kingfisher not forgetting our first sighting of the beautiful Brimstone butterfly.

Another brilliant day at Slimbridge with a total of 55 birds seen including Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Shelduck, Pintail, Greater Scaup, Avocet, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Crane, White fronted Geese, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Curlew, Reed Bunting, Kingfisher, Little Egret etc

Avocet Island - Avocets pairing up

Avocets and Shoveler

Distant Peregrine - always one to be found on the estuary

Follow the leader

Avocet group

Territorial Shelducks

Charismatic Jackdaws

Skulking Water Rail

Water Rail plus catch of the day a poor newt

On the run

Shelduck

Little Grebe

Wren

Wren sitting nicely

Rook - a good number seen around the rookery

Pintail

Black tailed Godwit - good numbers seen now nearly in full summer plumage

Little Egret

Little Egret note the yellow feet

Crane

White Fronted Geese - off north any day now

White Fronted goose

Bathing Crane - plus whirlpool!

Grazing Wigeon

Preening Crane

Shake down

Big bird

White fronted Goose

Oystercatcher

Greater Scaup - 2 females at the black of the lake

Pintail splashdown

Wednesday, 2 March 2016

River Exe Estuary - Avocets, Godwits, & Brent Geese etc 29/2

An early visit to Bowling Green Marsh at Topsham to greet the roosting birds from the high tide on the River Exe. The hide was full by 9:30 of folk awaiting the flocks of birds. A steady stream of Avocets, Godwits, Dunlin and Wigeon flew in to join the Teal, Shelduck, and Curlew. Very large groups of waders and Ducks had assembled when a paraglider flew over and a whole mass of birds took to the air.

Away from the hide towards the screen wall and the field we had our best views yet of Black tailed Godwits some of them phasing into their summer colours. From the screens on the River Exe trail a single Greenshank and several Redshank were feeding on the mud. Had a great view of a Water Rail here as well. At all times huge flocks of Brent Geese flew overhead. A fantastic morning spent at Topsham with some great views of birds.

During the afternoon we ventured to Dawlish Warren reserve and the hide. Unfortunately the tide was now well out but again we had great views of Brent Geese, Stonechat and Linnets on the golf course and a lovely Skylark on the shingle by the hide. From the hide we even got to see a distant seal that had hauled itself out onto a sand bar! Not too many birds seen at the Warren but the coastal scenery and walk more than made up for it.

A total of 56 birds seen for the day including Bar tailed Godwit, Black tailed Godwit, Brent Geese, Greenshank, Snipe, Pintail, Wigeon, Shoveler, Curlew, Shelduck, Avocet, Stonechat, Dunlin, Chiffchaff and Water Rail.